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Ellen Project Brings Uplifting Tunes To Hospitalized Children

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Twin Cities non-profit, Keys for Kids, is helping young hospital patients have some fun.

Keys for Kids has started the Ellen Project, where kids get to paint donated pianos, and sometimes those pianos are used to deliver live music right to the bedside.

On Thursday morning, 6-year-old Curtis got to hear an original song called "Here's to Happiness."

Emma Deihl, 17, wrote the song, and Eric Anderson played the piano.

"Ellen's sister Molly has cancer," Deihl said. "Ellen likes music, and that's how it got its name."

Newell Hill explained the ultimate goal.

"These kids might be going through a tough time in their life," he said. "We wanted to bring a little lift of inspiration and hope to them and their families."

Anderson is a musician who has played with Atmosphere for nine years, and is on board with the Ellen Project.

"I think it's great," he said. "(Emma's) got a really good voice, and a really good head on her shoulders. It's great that she's willing to donate her time for this as well."

And if you'd like to help Molly and Ellen, there's an event set for Aug 23. It's at the Seven Sushi Ultralounge in Minneapolis and will include live music and a silent auction.

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